CUOMO RELEASES POLICY STATEMENT ON MARCELLUS

Today, Andrew Cuomo released his new Energy policy document, Power NY, the New NY Agenda.

The Agenda is a step in the right direction but stops short of calling for a permanent ban on fracking in our watersheds.  The Agenda states that “existing watersheds are sacrosanct and Andrew Cuomo would not support any drilling that would threaten the State’s major sources of drinking water.”  However, the Agenda does foresee Marcellus drilling in New York that is “highly sensitive to environmental concerns”; that obtaining gas should “not come at the expense of human health or have adverse environmental impacts”; that “it is critical that no drilling be conducted that might negatively affect any existing watershed”; and “any drilling in the Marcellus Shale must be environmentally sensitive and safe.”

Yesterday, responding to the New York State Senate passing a moratorium on issuance of gas drilling permits until May 15, 2011, Andrew Cuomo said that he doesn’t think the state should allow drilling until it “knows all the facts.”

While agreeing that a moratorium in general makes sense, Cuomo was flippant regarding the May date stating:  “That’s why they call it May.”

Now is the time to let Andrew Cuomo know we need a clear and firm commitment from him banning fracking in our watersheds permanently.

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